Cartridge belt



W. A. SCHAICH CARTRIDGE BELT April 3, 1945.

Filed Aug. 6, 1943 Wilbur A Echaich CXMWW/QQMM the magnetic circuit and hence due to the high retentivity properties of the particular magnetic material employed the cartridge will be firmly held to the belt by a magnetic attraction.

Alternative forms of my invention are shown in the other figures of the drawing. Fig. discloses a magnetic cartridge belt wherein the belt material I comprises a thin strip of ferrous material. For such construction I find it most convenient to eliminate the base portion 3 of the cartridge holders and utilize magnetic support members 4 individually welded or otherwise secured directly to the metallic strips 1.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative design of the magnetic cartridge holder wherein only the supports t are made of the high retentivity'material while the base member 3 to which the supports 4 are secured by welding or other means is made from ordinary ferrous material.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modification of my invention wherein the front magnetic support 4a is of greater height than the rear magnetic support 3b. With such construction easier feeding of the cartridge into the chamber of a firearm is obtained since the nose of the cartridge is thereby elevated to such position as to directly enter the chamber without ramping.

With cartridge belts constructed in accordance with this invention and loaded with steel case cartridges, all the properties of an open link belt are retained. The cartridge may be fed directly into the chamber of an automatic firearm by engagement of the bolt of such firearm beyond the end of the cartridge and sliding the cartridge off the magnetic support member 2. It will be observed that a sliding motion between two magnetically attracted surfaces can be readily produced.

I claim:

1. A belt for cartridges having a case of magnetic material comprising a flexible fabric strip, a plurality of permanent magnet members secured to said fabric strip at equi-spaced intervals, said magnet members having a base portion interwoven in said fabric strip and a cartridge engaging portion projecting out of said strip.

2. A belt for cartridges having a case of magnetic material comprising a strip of flexible mag-' netic material, a plurality of pairs of permanent magnets secured to said strip at equi-spaced intervals, each of said magnets having a base portion arranged in intimate metallic contact with said strip and the top surfaces of each pair of magnets being shaped to engage a single cartridge case, whereby a high permeability, closed magnetic circuit is formed between said magnets by said strip and the cartridge case.

3. A belt for cartridges having a case of magnetic material comprising a flexible strip, a plurality of cartridge holders secured to said strip at equi-spaced intervals, said cartridge holders comprising a base and a plurality of supports formed on said base, the top surfaces of said supports being shaped to engage the surface of a cartridge case, said base and said supports constituting a permanent magnet.

4. A belt for cartridges having a case of magnetic material comprising a flexible strip, a plurality of cartridge holders secured to said strip at equi-spaced intervals, said cartridge holders comprising a base and a plurality of supports secured to said base, the top surfaces of said supports being shaped to engage the surface of a cartridge.

netic material comprising a pair of parallel flexie ble strips, means securing said strips together at intervals corresponding to the cartridge spacing desired and a plurality of cartridgeholders each held between said strips in the space between said securing means, said cartridge holders comprising a fiat base portion arranged to be held between said pair of strips and a pair of cartridge supports formed on each of the ends of said base portion projecting out of said strips, the top surfaces of said supports being shaped to engage the surface of a cartridge case, said base and said supports constituting a permanent magnet.

7. A belt for cartridges having a case f magnetic material comprising a pair of parallel flexible strips, means securing said strips together at intervals corresponding to the cartridge spacing desired and a plurality of cartridge holders each held between said strips in the space between said securing means, said cartridge holders comprising a flat base portion arranged to be held between said pair of strips, a pair of cartridge supports secured on each of the ends of said base portion projecting out of said strips, the top surfaces of said supports being shaped to engage the surface of a cartridge case, said supports constituting permanent magnets and said base being of magnetic material.

8. A magnetic cartridge holder for steel case cartridges comprising a base, a plurality of permanent magnets linearly mounted on said base, the top surfaces of said magnets being shaped to engage successive surface regions along the length of a cartridge, the said magnets arranged to engage the forward portions of the cartridge being of increased height whereby a supported cartridge will be tipped with respect to said base.

9. A belt for cartridges having a case of magnetic material comprising a flexible strip, a plurality of cartridge holding units secured to said strip at equi-spaced intervals, said units comprising a plurality of permanent magnets disposed transversely across said strip, the top surfaces of said magnets being shaped to engage successive surface regions along the length of a cartridge. the said magnet arranged to engage the forward portion of the cartridge case being of increased height whereby a cartridge secured to any one of said holding units will have the nose thereof tipped upwardly with respect to said strip.

WILBUR A. SCI-IAICH. 

